A generation after the Stephen Lawrence case and the subsequent racism enquiry, we are gravely concerned to see so many police officers in the force under investigation for racist behaviour, said the HCJ chairman Jaiya Shah.

In total, 18 officers and one civilian staff member are being investigated in relation to 10 claims of racism.

Retired Flying Squad commander John O'Connor told BBC London that after the force was "vilified" as being institutionally racist by the 1999 Macpherson Inquiry, which looked into the force's handling of the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation, checks and balances "should have been put in place".

"We need to find out why this is happening. It's no good having the deputy commissioner almost washing his hands and saying 'we won't put up with racism', he said.

Jaiya Shah said it is quite right for Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, to suggest that "we need a broader investigation to reassure people that this is not a cultural problem within the Met which has led to these police officers believing they could get away with such despicable behaviour."

Mr Vaz informed that the management of the Met was on the list of inquiries the committee was looking to carry out.

In view of the present claims of racism and what flows from this, public has a right to know how well the recommendations of the Macpherson Inquiry have been implemented, said Jaiya Shah.

The HCJ is worried that what happens in macro can happen in micro i.e. in any London borough.

She emphasised that the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime should monitor how effectively the Met related recommendations have been carried out as well as to evaluate their impact on the specific culture within the Met, and to keep public fully informed of the progress on an ongoing basis, including through the agencies that the MOPC funds.

Note:‘There are now 12 separate allegations of racism by Met officers under investigation by Scotland Yard and the IPCC’: Firefighter launches racism complaint against Harrow Police: The Harrow Times: 20/4/12

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